Political Quotes

“Last weekend Southern Illinois University and the larger Carbondale community lost two icons, Harvey Welch and Seymour Bryson. Harry Welch, a native of Centralia, was the first Black athlete to earn a basketball letter at SIU, playing from 1951 to 1954. He was also the first Black student to complete the ROTC program at the university. Harvey went on to a 20-year career in the Air Force, and he was the first of three Black officers to be promoted to colonel. After retiring from the Air Force, Harvey came back to Carbondale and SIU in 1975. He served as the first Black dean of student life at SIU and then as vice chancellor from 1987 to 2000. Seymour Bryson of Quincy, a fellow basketball standout, received three degrees from SIU. He was one of three African Americans to progress from assistant professor to full professor at SIU. He was also the first African American associate dean of the college and the second of three African American deans. Seymour was active in the Carbondale NAACP, Jackson County Mental Health Board, and Carbondale United Way. Harvey Welch and Seymour Bryson are members of the SIU Saluki Hall of Fame. They will be dearly missed. Recognizing Kody Vanfossan”